Display device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a display device including a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel adjacent to the first sub-pixel. The first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel each include a semiconductor film, a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, an interlayer insulating film, and a leveling film and further possesses a light-emitting element located over the leveling film. The display device has a partition wall located between the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel and a trench passing through the leveling film.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from theprior Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-135669, filed on Jul. 8,2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a display device exemplified by aflexible EL display device.

BACKGROUND

As a typical example of a display device, a liquid crystal displaydevice, an organic EL (Electroluminescence) device, and the like havinga liquid crystal element or a light-emitting element in each pixel arerepresented. These display devices have a display element such as aliquid crystal element or an organic light-emitting element(hereinafter, referred to as a light-emitting element) in each of aplurality of pixels formed over a substrate. A liquid crystal elementand a light-emitting element have a layer including a liquid crystal andan organic compound, respectively, between a pair of electrodes and areoperated by applying a voltage or supplying a current between the pairof electrodes.

Each pixel of a display device is provided with a semiconductor elementsuch as a transistor by which operation of a liquid crystal element anda light-emitting element is controlled. Use of such a so-calledactive-matrix type display device enables high-resolution display. Forexample, an active-matrix type organic EL display device provided with aplurality of pixels having light-emitting elements showing differentcolors and transistors is disclosed in Japanese patent applicationpublication 2012-216338.

SUMMARY

A display device according to an embodiment of the present inventionincludes a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel adjacent to the firstsub-pixel, and a partition wall located at a boundary between the firstsub-pixel and the second sub-pixel. The first sub-pixel and the secondsub-pixel each include: a thin-film transistor having a semiconductorfilm, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, thesource electrode and the drain electrode being electrically connected tothe semiconductor film; a gate insulating film between the semiconductorfilm and the gate electrode; an interlayer insulating film over thesemiconductor film, the gate electrode, and the gate insulating film andunder the source electrode and the drain electrode; a leveling film overthe source electrode and the drain electrode; and a light-emittingelement located over the leveling film and having an EL layer between afirst electrode and a second electrode. An edge portion of the firstelectrode is covered by the partition wall, and a part of the secondelectrode is located over the partition wall. An overlapping regionwhere the leveling film overlaps with the partition wall in a plane viewis located between the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel. Atrench passing through the leveling film and the partition wall islocated in the overlapping region, and the EL layer is in contact withthe interlayer insulating film via the trench.

A display device according to an embodiment of the present inventionincludes a first pixel, a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel, anda partition wall located at a boundary between the first pixel and thesecond pixel. The first pixel and the second pixel each have a firstsub-pixel including: a thin-film transistor having a semiconductor film,a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, the sourceelectrode and the drain electrode being electrically connected to thesemiconductor film; a gate insulating film between the semiconductorfilm and the gate electrode; an interlayer insulating film over thesemiconductor film, the gate electrode, and the gate insulating film andunder the source electrode and the drain electrode; a leveling film overthe source electrode and the drain electrode; and a light-emittingelement located over the leveling film and having an EL layer between afirst electrode and a second electrode. An edge portion of the firstelectrode is covered by the partition wall, and a part of the secondelectrode is located over the partition wall. An overlapping regionwhere the leveling film overlaps with the partition wall in a plane viewis located between the first pixel and the second pixel. A trenchpassing through the partition wall and reaching at least a part of theleveling film is located in the overlapping region, and the EL layer isin contact with a bottom surface of the trench.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are schematic top views of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are schematic cross-sectional views of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are schematic cross-sectional views of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic top view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a schematic top view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a schematic top view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 17 is a schematic top view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 18 is a schematic top view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 19 is a schematic top view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a schematic top view of a display device according to anembodiment;

FIG. 23A to FIG. 23C are schematic views showing a manufacturing methodof a display device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 24A and FIG. 24B are schematic views showing a manufacturing methodof a display device according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B are schematic views showing a manufacturing methodof a display device according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention is explained withreference to the drawings. The invention can be implemented in a varietyof modes within the scope of the concept and should not be interpretedas being limited to the disclosure of the following embodiments.

In the drawings, the width, thickness, shape, and the like of eachcomponent may be schematically illustrated and different from those ofan actual mode in order to provide a clearer explanation. However, thedrawings simply give an example and do not limit the interpretation ofthe present invention. In the specification and each of the drawings,the same reference number is provided to an element which is the same asthat appearing in preceding drawings, and a detailed explanation may beomitted as appropriate.

In the present invention, when a plurality of films is formed byprocessing one film, the plurality of films may have functions or rolesdifferent from each other. However, the plurality of films originatesfrom a film which is formed as the same layer in the same process.Therefore, the plurality of films is defined as films existing in thesame layer.

First Embodiment

In the present embodiment, a display device according to an embodimentof the present invention is explained by using FIG. 1 to FIG. 10B.

A top view of a display device 100 according to an embodiment is shownin FIG. 1. The display device 100 has a display region 104 including aplurality of pixels 108 and gate-side driver circuits (hereinafter,referred to as driver circuits) 110 over one surface (top surface) of abase material 102. In a plurality of sub-pixels 106 included in onepixel 108, light-emitting elements different in emission color from oneanother can be provided, by which full-color display can beaccomplished. For example, red-emissive, green-emissive, andblue-emissive light-emitting elements may be arranged in thecorresponding three sub-pixels 106. Alternatively, a white-emissivelight-emitting element is used in all of the sub-pixels 106, andfull-color display may be performed by extracting red, green, and bluecolors from the corresponding sub-pixels 106 by using a color filter.The colors eventually extracted are not limited to a combination of red,green, and blue colors. For instance, four kinds of colors of red,green, blue, and white can be extracted from four sub-pixels 106 byconstructing one pixel 108 so as to have four sub-pixels 106. Anarrangement of the sub-pixels 106 is also not limited, and a stripearrangement, a delta arrangement, a mosaic arrangement, and the like maybe employed.

Wirings 112 extend to a side surface (a short side of the display device100 in FIG. 1) of the base material 102 from the display region 104 andare exposed at an edge portion of the base substrate 102. The exposedportions form terminals 114. The terminals 114 are connected to aconnector (not shown) such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC). Thedisplay region 104 is also electrically connected to an IC chip 116through the wirings 112, by which image signals supplied from anexternal circuit (not shown) are provided to the sub-pixels 106 throughthe driver circuits 110 and the IC chip 116, enabling light-emission ofthe sub-pixels 106 to be controlled and an image to be reproduced on thedisplay region 104. Although not shown, the display device 100 maypossess a source-side driver circuit at a periphery of the displayregion 104 instead of the IC chip 116. In the present embodiment, twodriver circuits 110 are disposed so as to sandwich the display region104. However, a single driver circuit 110 may be used. Furthermore, thedriver circuits 110 may not be formed over the base substrate 102, and adriver circuit provided over a different substrate may be mounted overthe connector.

The base material 102 has a function to support the display region 104,the driver circuits 110, and the like formed thereover. The use of aflexible base material 102 provides flexibility to the whole of thedisplay device 100, allowing the display device 100 to be deformed byfolding or bending. In this case, the base material 102 is also called abase film. The base material 102 may include a polymer material such asa polyimide, a polyester, a polyamide, and an acrylic resin. It ispreferred to use a polymer material such as a polyimide and a polyamidehaving chemical durability and physical strength to the process forfabricating layers (described below) formed over the base material 102.

A schematic view of the display region 104 is shown in FIG. 2A. A pitchL1 of the sub-pixels 106 is preferably equal to or larger than 20 μm andequal to or smaller than 80 μm or equal to or larger than 30 μm andequal to or smaller than 50 μm. A distance L2 between the adjacentsub-pixels 106 is preferably equal to or larger than 5 μm and equal toor smaller than 30 μm or equal to or larger than 5 μm and equal to orsmaller than 20 μm and is typically approximately 10 μm.

The display device 100 shown in the present embodiment has trenches 180between the adjacent pixels 108. In the structure shown in FIG. 2A, thetrenches 180 extend in a vertical direction and a lateral direction,that is, in a long-side direction and a short-side direction of thedisplay device 100. The trenches 180 extending in the vertical directionand the lateral direction intersect each other. In the presentembodiment, one pixel 108 is included in a minimum area demarcated bythe trenches 180 intersecting each other. However, an embodiment of thepresent invention is not limited to this structure, and a plurality ofpixels 108 may be included in a minimum area demarcated by the trenches180 intersecting each other. This structure is explained in the FourthEmbodiment.

A distance between the adjacent sub-pixels 106 may be different betweena region with the trench 180 and a region without the trench 180. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 2B, a distance L2 between the adjacentsub-pixels 106 in one pixel 108 may be smaller than a distance L3between the adjacent sub-pixels 106 with the trench 180 sandwichedtherebetween.

An enlarged schematic view of the pixel 108 is shown in FIG. 3. As shownin FIG. 3, in the display device 100 illustratively shown in the presentembodiment, three sub-pixels 106 are provided in one sub-pixel 108. Thepixel 108 possesses a signal line 120, a current-supplying line 122, anda gate line 124. Although not shown, the pixel 108 may have anotherwiring other than the signal line 120, the current-supplying line 122,and the gate line 124.

Each sub-pixel 106 is provided with two transistors respectivelyincluding semiconductor films 126 and 136. A projected portion of thegate line 124 (a portion protruding downward in the drawing) functionsas a gate 128 of the transistor including the semiconductor film 126,whereas a projected portion of the signal line 120 (a portion protrudingleftward in the drawing) functions as a source 130 of this transistor. Asignal supplied from the signal line 120 is transmitted to a drain 132through the semiconductor film 126. The drain 132 is connected to afirst capacitor electrode 134 through a contact (a dotted circle in thedrawing), and a part of the first capacitor electrode 134 (a portionprotruding downward in the drawing) functions as a gate 138 of thetransistor including the semiconductor film 136. A source 140 of thistransistor is a projected portion of the current-supplying line 122 (aportion protruding rightward in the drawing), and a drain 142 alsofunctions as a second capacitor electrode 160 opposing the firstcapacitor electrode 134. The drain 142 is electrically connected,through a contact, to a first electrode 144 which is one electrode ofthe light-emitting element. Note that the first electrode 144 is notillustrated in a part of the sub-pixels 106 in order to promoteunderstanding. In the present embodiment, the sub-pixel 106 having twotransistors and one capacitor is demonstrated as an example. However,the sub-pixel 106 may be further provided with another transistor orcapacitor.

As shown in FIG. 3, one of the three signal lines 120 is electricallyconnected to a pixel circuit included in a corresponding sub-pixel 106among the three sub-pixels 106. On the other hand, the gate line 124 iselectrically connected to each of the pixel circuits included in thethree sub-pixels 106.

The display device 100 of the present embodiment possesses a trench 180between the pixels 108 adjacent to each other. For example, as shown inFIG. 3, the display device 100 has the trench 180 between the signalline 120 of one sub-pixel 106 in the pixel 108 and the current-supplyingline 122 of one sub-pixel 106 in the adjacent pixel 108. Furthermore,the display device 100 has the trench 180 between two adjacent gatelines 124. The trenches 180 extend in a direction parallel to the signallines 120, that is, a direction perpendicular to the gate lines 124 andintersects the gate lines 124. Similarly, the trenches 180 also extendin a direction perpendicular to the signal lines 120, that is, adirection parallel to the gate lines 124 and intersect the signal lines120 and the current-supplying lines 122.

A schematic view of a cross section along a chain line A-B of FIG. 3 isshown in FIG. 4. The display device 100 possesses an undercoat 150 overthe base material 102. The undercoat 150 is a film having a function toprevent impurities from being diffused to the semiconductor films 126and 136 and the like from the base material 102.

The display device 100 further has a gate insulating film 152 over theundercoat 150. As described below, the gate insulating film 152 extendsto the transistors in the sub-pixels 106 and overlaps with the gate 128.The first capacitor electrode 134 is disposed over the gate insulatingfilm 152. As described below, the first capacitor electrode 134 isarranged in the same layer and has the same structure as the gate line124.

A first interlayer insulating film 156 and a second interlayerinsulating film 158 are provided over the first capacitor electrode 134.As described below, these films are formed over the gates 128 and 138 ofthe transistors in the sub-pixel 106 and have a function to protect thetransistors. For example, a film including silicon nitride and a filmincluding silicon oxide can be utilized as the first interlayerinsulating film 156 and the second interlayer insulating film 158,respectively. In this case, the gate insulating film 152 is preferably afilm including silicon oxide. This is because these films have a highbarrier property, a large adhesion can be obtained between adjacentfilms, and a foreign object is not readily formed in processing. Notethat the first interlayer insulating film 156 and the second interlayerinsulating film 158 function as a dielectric film of the capacitor.

The signal lines 120, the current-supplying lines 122, and the secondcapacitor electrodes 160 are disposed over the second interlayerinsulating film 158. These items may exist in the same layer.

The display device 100 further possesses a leveling film 162. Theleveling film 162 has a function to absorb projections and depressionscaused by each layer formed thereunder and provide a flat surface. Thefirst electrode 144 of the light-emitting element is arranged over theleveling film 162.

A partition wall 164 is provided over the first electrode 144 so as tocover an edge portion of the first electrode 144. The partition wall 164has a function to prevent an EL layer 166 and a passivation film 170(also called a sealing film) formed thereover from being damaged byprojections and depressions caused by the first electrode 144. Notethat, in the present specification and claims, an EL layer is a layerconstructing an EL element and means all the layers sandwiched between apair of electrodes. Injection of carriers from a pair of electrodescauses recombination in an EL layer, and light-emission from an excitedstate generated by the recombination is obtained in a visible region.

As shown in FIG. 4, an opening portion reaching the second interlayerinsulating film 158 is formed in the leveling film 162 and the partitionwall 164, and the opening portion corresponds to the trench 180. A widthW of the trench 180 corresponds to a width of the opening portion at anupper surface of the partition wall 164 and is preferably equal to orlarger than 0.5 μm and equal to or smaller than 5 μm, equal to or largerthan 1 μm and equal to or smaller than 3 μm, or equal to or larger than2 μm and equal to or smaller than 3 μm. In the display device 100 shownin FIG. 4, a side surface of the trench 180 provided by the partitionwall 164 and a side surface of the trench 180 provided by the levelingfilm 162 exist in the same plane. Note that the side surface of thetrench 180 is inclined from both of an upper surface and a normal lineof the base material 102 in FIG. 4. However, the side surface of thetrench 180 may be parallel to a normal line of the base material 102.Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, the side surface of the trench 180may be parallel to a normal line of the base material 102. In this case,an area of a bottom of the trench 180 is substantially the same as anarea of the opening portion of the partition wall 164. In contrast, theside surface of the trench 180 may have a step as shown in FIG. 5B. Inthis case, an area of the opening portion of the leveling film 162 atits upper surface is smaller than an area of a bottom of the partitionwall 164 in the trench 180. Alternatively, the trench 180 may have astructure in which the partition wall 164 covers the side surface of theopening portion of the leveling film 162 as shown in FIG. 5C. In thiscase, a part of the partition wall 164 is in contact with the secondinterlayer insulating film 158.

Referring to FIG. 4, the display device 100 further has the EL layer 166and a second electrode 168 over the first electrode 144 and thepartition wall 164. The light-emitting element is constructed by thefirst electrode 144, the EL layer 166, and the second electrode 168. TheEL layer 166 is in contact with the second interlayer insulating film158 via the trench 180.

The EL layer 166 is illustrated so as to have a single-layer structurein FIG. 4. However, the EL layer 166 may possess a structure in which aplurality of layers including different materials are stacked. Forexample, a charge-injection layer, a charge-transporting layer, anemission layer, a charge-blocking layer, and the like may be stacked asappropriate.

An enlarged figure of a part of FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 6. When emissioncolors different between adjacent sub-pixels 106 are obtained, layers166_1 and 166_4 other than emission layers 166_2 and 166_3 may be formedas common layers so as to be shared by the adjacent sub-pixels 106 andthe trench 180 as shown in FIG. 6. A hole-injection layer, ahole-transporting layer, an electron-injection layer, anelectron-transporting layer, and the like are represented as the layers166_1 and 166_4. The emission layers 166_2 and 166_3 different from eachother are respectively provided in the adjacent sub-pixels 106, and theemission layers 166_2 and 166_3 are sandwiched between the layers 166_1and 166_4. When the EL layer 166 is formed in such a configuration, thelayer in contact with the second interlayer insulating film 158 in thetrench 180 is the layer 166_1. Hence, the structure of the EL layer 166in the trench 180 is different from that in each sub-pixel 106. Thesecond electrode 168 can possess the same structure as the firstelectrode 144.

Referring to FIG. 4, the passivation film 170 for protecting thelight-emitting element is provided over the second electrode 168.

Although not shown, a color filter, a light-shielding film, a substrate(opposing substrate) opposing the base material 102, and the like may bearranged as an optional structure over the second electrode 168 or thepassivation film 170. When an opposing substrate is provided, a spacebetween the base material 102 and the opposing substrate may be filledwith an organic resin as a filler or an inert gas. When a filler isprovided, the filler is included inside the trench 180. Note that adotted line 182 in FIG. 4 is a center line and indicates a position at ahalf thickness of the display device 100. Here, the dotted line 182points to a middle position between a bottom surface of the basematerial 102 and a top surface of the passivation film 170. In anembodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that a thickness ofeach layer such as the base material 102, the partition wall 164, andthe leveling film 162 be controlled so that the center line 182 islocated at or near the bottom surface of the trench 180 (i.e., a topsurface of the second interlayer insulating film 162) as shown in FIG.4.

A schematic cross-sectional view along the trench 180, that is, across-sectional view along a chain line C-D shown in FIG. 3 isillustrated in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the undercoat 150, the gateinsulating film 152, the gate line 124, the first interlayer insulatingfilm 156, the second interlayer insulating film 158, the EL layer 166,the second electrode 168, and the passivation film 170 are provided overthe base material 102 in this order in a region in which the trench 180is located. Hence, in the trench 180, the leveling film 162 and thepartition wall 164 are not formed, and the second interlayer insulatingfilm 158 is in contact with the EL layer 166.

The two sub-pixels 106 formed so as to sandwich the gate line 124 areshown in FIG. 8. A cross-sectional view along a broken line E-F of thisfigure is shown in FIG. 9. Note that the first electrode 144 of one ofthe sub-pixels 106 is also not illustrated in FIG. 8

The sub-pixel 106 includes the transistor which possesses thesemiconductor film 126, the gate insulating film 152, and the gate 128as shown in FIG. 9. The sub-pixel 106 further has the first interlayerinsulating film 156 and the second interlayer insulating film 158 overthe transistor, and the source 130 and the drain 132 are arrangedthereover. The source 130 and the drain 132 are electrically connectedto the semiconductor film 126 through the contacts formed in the firstinterlayer insulating film 156, the second interlayer insulating film158, and the gate insulating film 152. Note that the transistor of atop-gate type is illustrated in FIG. 9. However, the transistor may be abottom-gate type. Additionally, the transistor may be an N-channel-typetransistor or a P-channel-type transistor.

Cross-sectional views along the signal line 120, that is,cross-sectional views along a chain line G-H of FIG. 8 are shown in FIG.10A and FIG. 10B. As shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, the display device100 possesses, over the base material 102, the undercoat 150, the gateinsulating film 152, the gate line 124, the first interlayer insulatingfilm 156, and the second interlayer insulating film 158 in this order.The signal line 120 is provided over the second interlayer insulatingfilm 158.

The trench 180 shown in FIG. 8 extends in a direction parallel to thegate line 124 and intersects the signal line 120 and thecurrent-supplying line 122. In a region in which the trench 180 and thesignal line 120 intersect each other, the signal line 120 may bephysically disconnected and the divided signal lines 120 can beelectrically connected to each other via a connection electrode 148. Thesame is applied to the current-supplying line 122, and thecurrent-supplying line 122 may be disconnected in a region overlappingwith the trench 180, and the divided current-supplying lines 122 can beelectrically connected to each other via the connection electrode 148. Aschematic cross-sectional view along a chain line G-H of FIG. 8 is shownin FIG. 10A. As shown in FIG. 10A, the connection electrode 148 may bearranged between the first interlayer insulating film 156 and the secondinterlayer insulating film 158, and the divided signal lines 120 can beelectrically connected to the connection electrode 148 through contactsformed in the second interlayer insulating film 158, for example. Inthis case, a top surface of the connection electrode 148 is covered withthe second interlayer insulating film 158.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10B, the connection electrode 148may exist in the same layer as the gate line 124. Namely, both of thegate line 124 and the connection electrode 148 may be formed so as to besandwiched by the gate insulating film 152 and the first interlayerinsulating film 156. In this case, the divided signal lines 120 areconnected to the connection electrode 148 through the opening portionformed in the first interlayer insulating film 156 and the secondinterlayer insulating film 158. Note that it is not always necessary todisconnect the signal line 120 and the current-supplying line 122, andthese lines may be continuously formed through the two sub-pixels 106with the trench 180 interposed therebetween.

The trench 180 is formed by performing an etching treatment on thepartition wall 164 and the leveling film 162 simultaneously orindividually. When the signal line 120 is not disconnected, the signalline 120 may be exposed to an etchant in the etching treatment,resulting in oxidation of a surface of the signal line 120. However, theconnection electrode 148 is formed, and a top surface thereof is coveredwith the first interlayer insulating film 156 and/or the secondinterlayer insulating film 158, thereby preventing the signal line 120from being exposed to an etchant in the etching treatment. Furthermore,it is possible to avoid direct contact of the signal line 120 with theEL layer 166.

As described above, the use of a flexible base material 102 providesflexibility to the display device 100. In this case, deformation of thedisplay device 100 by folding or bending results in stress on theelements such as the light-emitting element, the transistors, and thecapacitor provided in the sub-pixel 106. Large stress on the sub-pixel106 causes peeling at an interface with low adhesion, such as aninterface between the EL layer 166 and the first electrode 144, aninterface between the EL layer 166 and the second electrode 168, and aninterface between the second electrode 168 and the passivation film 170,leading to destruction of the light-emitting elements. Moreover, peelingmay also take place at interfaces between the films structuring thetransistors and the capacitor or cracks may be caused in these films.

However, even when the display device 100 is deformed, the trench 180mainly supports the weight of deformation, thereby reducing the amountof deformation of the sub-pixel 106. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11,when the display device 100 is bent so that the upper surface of thebase material 102 over which the display region 104 is provided ispositioned outside with respect to the lower surface, the openingportion of the trench 180 is expanded because the region in which thetrench 180 is provided has a relatively small thickness. That is,although the shape of the trench 180 is changed upon the deformation ofthe display device 100, the deformation of the pixel 108 including thelight-emitting element and the transistors is suppressed. Hence, stresson the light-emitting element and the transistors is reduced, leading toimprovement of reliability of the display device 100.

Furthermore, when the adjacent pixels 108 or sub-pixels 106 share the ELlayer 166 or a part of the EL layer 166 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, acurrent may flow in a lateral direction (a direction parallel to thesurface of the base material 102) in the EL layer 166, and a currentinjected to one sub-pixel 106 may flow in the adjacent sub-pixel 106.This phenomenon is called crosstalk and cannot be neglected in the casewhere the EL layer 166 contains a layer with a relatively highconductivity and a distance between the sub-pixels 106 is small.However, by forming the trench 180, the EL layer 166 becomes longerbetween the sub-pixels 106 adjacent with each other with the trench 180sandwiched therebetween. Therefore, resistance of the EL layer 166 inthe lateral direction is increased, and crosstalk can be effectivelysuppressed. As a result, decrease in quality of an image reproduced inthe display region 104 can be avoided.

Second Embodiment

In the present embodiment, a display device of an embodiment of thepresent invention is explained by using FIG. 12. Description of thestructures which are the same as those of the First Embodiment may beomitted.

A schematic cross-sectional view of a display device 200 of the presentembodiment is shown in FIG. 12. Note that this schematic cross-sectionalview corresponds to the cross-section along the chain line A-B of FIG.3. As shown in FIG. 12, a part of the leveling film 162 is left in alower portion of the trench 180. Therefore, the EL layer 166 is incontact with the bottom surface of the trench 180, that is, the levelingfilm 162, and a thickness of the leveling film 162 in the trench 180 issmaller than that in the sub-pixel 106. Such a structure can be realizedby controlling the conditions of the etching process for forming thetrench 180 as appropriate. Alternatively, this structure can be realizedby fabricating the leveling film 162 by stacking two layers havingdifferent etching rates.

In such a structure, the signal line 120 and the current-supplying line122 are not exposed when the trench 180 is formed, and the oxidation oftheir surfaces can be avoided without forming the connection electrode148 described in the First Embodiment. Moreover, this structure iseffective as a method for placing the bottom surface of the trench 180close to the center line 182 when a thickness of the base material 102is small and the center line 182 is located closer to the light-emittingelement.

Third Embodiment

In the present embodiment, a display device of an embodiment of thepresent invention is explained by using FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. Descriptionof the structures which are the same as those of the First and SecondEmbodiments may be omitted.

A top view of a display device 300 of the present embodiment is shown inFIG. 13. Similar to the First Embodiment, a mode is described as anexample in which the pixel 108 has three sub-pixels 106 in thisembodiment. In the display device 300, the gate line 124 is disconnectedin a region overlapping with the trench 180, and the two divided gatelines 124 are electrically connected to each other via the connectionelectrode 146.

More specifically, as shown in a schematic cross-sectional view (FIG.14) along a chain line I-J of FIG. 13, the gate line 124 provided overthe undercoat 150 and the gate insulating film 152 is disconnected inthe region overlapping with the trench 180. The first interlayerinsulating film 156 is formed over the divided gate lines 124, and thefirst interlayer insulating film 156 possesses opening portions exposingthe gate line 124. The connection electrode 146 is arranged over thefirst interlayer insulating film 156, and the two divided gate lines 124are electrically connected to each other through the aforementionedopening portions. The second interlayer insulating film 158 is formedover the connection electrode 146, and the signal line 120 and thecurrent-supplying line 122 are provided thereover. In such a structure,the center line 182 can be placed at or close to the bottom surface ofthe trench 180 by controlling a thickness of the connection electrode146, by which increased durability to deformation can be provided to adisplay device.

Fourth Embodiment

In the present embodiment, a display device of an embodiment of thepresent invention is explained by using FIG. 15 to FIG. 18. Descriptionof the structures which are the same as those of the First to ThirdEmbodiments may be omitted.

In the display device 100 of the First Embodiment, one pixel 108 havinga plurality of sub-pixels 106 is included in a minimum area demarcatedby the trenches 180 intersecting each other (see FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B).On the other hand, a display device of the present embodiment has onesub-pixel 106 in a minimum area demarcated by the trenches 180intersecting each other as shown in FIG. 15. Employment of such astructure allows production of a display device which is readilydeformed and has increased durability to deformation because of anincrease in contribution of the portion undergoing deformation in thedeformation of the display device. Additionally, all of the sub-pixels106 possess the trench 180 between the adjacent sub-pixel 106 and thesub-pixel 106, thereby effectively preventing crosstalk.

Alternatively, the display device of the present embodiment may have aplurality of pixels 108 in a minimum area demarcated by the trenches 180intersecting each other as shown in FIG. 16. Furthermore, the number ofthe pixels 108 included in the minimum area may be varied. That is, thetrenches 180 may be configured so as to surround the plurality of pixels108 or the plurality of sub-pixels 106 or may be configured to demarcatesome pixels of the plurality of pixels 108 in an island shape or somesub-pixels of the plurality of sub-pixels 106 in an island shape.Alternatively, the trenches 180 may be provided so as not to intersecteach other but extend in only one direction as shown in FIG. 17. In FIG.17, the trenches 180 are formed in only a direction parallel to the gatelines 124, and no trench parallel to the signal lines 120 is provided.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, the display device may have astructure in which several numbers (e.g., equal to or larger than 1 andequal to 10 or smaller than 10) of trenches are included in one displayregion 104.

Employment of such structures allows the flexibility of the whole of thedisplay device to be adjusted and the flexibility to be appropriatelytuned depending on a direction or location of the deformation.

Fifth Embodiment

In the present embodiment, a display device of an embodiment of thepresent invention is explained by using FIG. 19 to FIG. 21. Descriptionof the structures which are the same as those of the First to FourthEmbodiments may be omitted.

A top view of a display device 400 of the present embodiment is shown inFIG. 19. In the display device 100 of the First Embodiment, the trenchesextend in both directions parallel and perpendicular to the gate lines124 and intersect the gate lines 124 and the signal lines 120. On theother hand, in the display device 400 of the present embodiment, thetrenches 180 extend in both directions parallel and perpendicular to thegate lines 124 but do not intersect the gate lines 124 and the signallines 120 as shown in FIG. 19. That is, the trenches 180 are divided ina region overlapping with the gate lines 124 and the signal lines 120.More specifically, the display device 400 possesses a trench 184 whichextends in a direction parallel to the gate lines 124 but does notintersect the signal lines 120 and a trench 186 which extends in adirection perpendicular to the gate lines 124 but does not intersect thegate line 124. Note that the first electrode 144 is not illustrated in apart of the sub-pixels 106 in order to promote understanding.

This structure is explained in detail by using schematic cross-sectionalviews (FIG. 20, FIG. 21) along chain lines K-L and M-N of FIG. 19. Asshown in FIG. 20, in a region provided with the trench 186, the displaydevice 400 has the base material 102, the undercoat 150 formedthereover, the gate insulating film 152, the gate line 124, the firstinterlayer insulating film 156, the second interlayer insulating film158, the leveling film 162, and the partition wall 164 in this order.The leveling film 162 and the partition wall 164 have an opening portionbetween the two gate lines 124, and this opening portion corresponds tothe trench 186. The EL layer 166 is in contact with the secondinterlayer insulating film 158 via the trench 186, and the secondelectrode 168 of the light-emitting element and the passivation film 170are formed over the EL layer 166.

Referring to FIG. 21, in a region provided with the trench 184, thedisplay device 400 has the base material 102, the undercoat 150 formedthereover, the gate insulating film 152, the first interlayer insulatingfilm 156, the second interlayer insulating film 158, the signal line120, the current-supplying line 122, the leveling film 162, and thepartition wall 164 in this order. The leveling film 162 and thepartition wall 164 have an opening portion between the signal line 120and the current-supplying line 122, and this opening portion correspondsto the trench 184. The EL layer 166 is in contact with the secondinterlayer insulating film 158 via the trench 184, and the secondelectrode 168 of the light-emitting element and the passivation film 170are formed over the EL layer 166.

The second electrode 168 of the light-emitting element is formed overthe whole surface of the display region 104 and is shared by eachsub-pixel 106. Thus, when a resistance of the second electrode 168 isrelatively high, e.g., when a light-transmitting conductive oxide isincluded in the second electrode 168, a voltage drop caused by theresistance of the second electrode 168 becomes prominent with increasingarea of the display region 104, resulting in unevenness of emissionluminance. Moreover, since a conduction route provided by the secondelectrode 168 passes through the trench 180 in the display device 100 ofthe First Embodiment, the conductive route is prolonged compared with acase where the trench 180 is not formed and the voltage drop becomesmore serious. However, the use of the structure of the display device400 secures a conduction route (e.g., a region 190 and the like in FIG.19) which does not pass through the trenches 184 and 186 between theadjacent sub-pixels 106. Namely, a region where the trenches 184 and 186are not provided has a shorter conduction route. Hence, the voltage dropresulting from the resistance of the second electrode can be relieved,and the unevenness of luminance can be decreased.

Sixth Embodiment

In the present embodiment, a manufacturing method of the display device100 explained in the First Embodiment is explained by using FIG. 22 toFIG. 25B. FIG. 22 is a top view of one sub-pixel 106 of the pixel 108shown in FIG. 3. Cross-sectional views along chain lines O-P and Q-R ofFIG. 22 are shown in FIG. 23A to FIG. 25B.

As shown in FIG. 23A, the undercoat 150 is formed over the base material102 over which the semiconductor film 126 is formed. As the basematerial 102, a material with relatively high physical strength, such asglass, quartz, and a metal, can be used, for example. When flexibilityis provided to the display device 100, a polymer material such as apolyimide, a polyamide, an acrylic resin, a polycarbonate, and apolyester is used, and a thickness may be selected so as to giveflexibility.

The undercoat 150 may include an inorganic compound such as siliconnitride, silicon oxide, silicon nitride oxide, and silicon oxynitrideand can be formed by applying a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method,a sputtering method, and the like.

The semiconductor 126 includes a material exhibiting semiconductorproperties, such as silicon, germanium, or an indium-based oxidesemiconductor and may be formed by using a CVD method, a sputteringmethod, or the like. Crystallinity of the semiconductor film 126 is alsonot limited, and the semiconductor film 126 may have asingle-crystalline, polycrystalline, microcrystalline, amorphousmorphology, or the like.

Next, the gate insulating film 152 is formed over the semiconductor film126 over which the gate 128 is formed (FIG. 23B). The gate insulatingfilm 152 can also be prepared with a material and a method which are thesame as those of the undercoat 150 and preferably contains siliconoxide. The undercoat 150 and the gate insulating film 152 each may havea single-layer structure or a stacked-layer structure including aplurality of layers. The gate 128 can be formed by using a metal such astitanium, aluminum, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, and tantalum and analloy thereof in a single-layer or stacked-layer structure. For example,a stacked layer can be employed in which aluminum or copper issandwiched by titanium or molybdenum. As a formation method, asputtering method, a CVD method, a printing method, or the like isrepresented. Note that, as shown in FIG. 22, the first capacitorelectrode 134 in addition to the gate line 124 are also simultaneouslyformed when the gate 128 is formed.

After forming the gate 128, the first interlayer insulating film 156 isformed. The first interlayer insulating film 156 may be formed with amaterial and a method which are the same as those of the undercoat 150and preferably contains silicon nitride.

Next, the connection electrode 148 is formed over the first interlayerinsulating film 156. The connection electrode 148 can be formed with amaterial usable for the gate 128 by applying a CVD method or asputtering method. The connection electrode 148 may possess any of asingle-layer structure and a stacked-layer structure.

The second interlayer insulating film 158 is formed over the connectionelectrode 148, and the opening portions are formed with etching in aregion overlapping with the connection electrode 148 (FIG. 23C). Thesecond insulating film 158 can also be formed with a material and amethod which are the same as those of the undercoat 150 and preferablycontains silicon oxide.

Next, the source 130, the drain 132, and the signal line 120 are formed(FIG. 24A). These wirings can be formed by using a material usable forthe gate 128 with a CVD method or a sputtering method. As shown in FIG.22, the second capacitor electrode 160 and the current-supplying line122 are also formed simultaneously with the source 130, the drain 132,and the signal line 120.

Next, the leveling film 162 is formed so as to cover the source 130, thedrain 132 and the signal line 120 (FIG. 24A). It is preferred that theleveling film 162 include a polymer material such as an acrylic resin, apolyester, a polyamide, a polyimide, and a polysiloxane. The levelingfilm 162 can be formed with a wet-type film-formation method such as aspin-coating method, an ink-jet method, and a printing method. Theformation of the leveling film 162 enables projections and depressionscaused by the transistors and the connection electrode 148 to beabsorbed, giving a flat surface.

Although not shown, the first electrode 144 of the light-emittingelement is formed over the leveling film 162. When light-emission fromthe light-emitting element is extracted through the base material 102,the first electrode 144 may be formed by using an oxide with alight-transmitting property so as to transmit visible light, forexample. Indium-tin oxide (ITO), indium-zinc oxide (IZO), and the likeare represented as an oxide with a light-transmitting property. As aformation method, a sputtering method is given. On the other hand, whenthe light-emission from the light-emitting element is extracted in adirection opposing the base material 102, a metal with a highreflectance may be used for the first electrode 144 so as to reflectvisible light. Specifically, silver, aluminum, or the like isexemplified. Alternatively, an oxide with a light-transmitting propertymay be stacked over a metal with a high reflectance. Note that anopening reaching the drain 132 of the transistor is formed in theleveling film 162 before the formation of the first electrode 144.

Next, the partition wall 164 is formed (FIG. 24B). The partition wall164 can be formed with a material usable for the leveling film 162 byapplying the aforementioned wet-type film-formation method. It ispreferred to form the leveling film 162 and the partition wall 164 so asto include the same material.

Next, etching is performed on the partition wall 164 and the levelingfilm 162 to form the opening portion to expose the second interlayerinsulating film 158 (FIG. 25A). This opening portion corresponds to thetrench 180. The trench 180 may be formed by performing etchingsimultaneously on the partition wall 164 and the leveling film 162 inone process. Alternatively, the trench 180 may be formed by conductingetching on the partition wall 164 to form an opening and then performingetching on the leveling film 162 under different conditions. In the casewhere the trench 180 is formed in the partition wall 164 and theleveling film 162 in one process, the side surface of the trench 180provided by the leveling film 162 and the side surface of the trench 180provided by the partition wall 164 exist in the same plane as shown inFIG. 25A. On the other hand, when the etching on the partition wall 164and the leveling film 162 is carried out in different steps to form thetrench 180, the step may be formed in the trench 180 as shown in FIG.5B.

Alternatively, etching may be performed on the leveling film 162 beforeforming the partition wall 164 to simultaneously form the openingportion in the region where the trench 180 is to be formed and theopening portion reaching the drain 132. In this case, although theopening portion provided in the leveling film 162 is covered with thepartition wall 164 temporarily, the trench 180 can be formed by formingan opening portion in the partition wall in a region where the trench180 is to be formed. In this case, a part of the EL layer 166 is incontact with the second interlayer insulating film 158 as shown in FIG.5C.

Next, the EL layer 166 and the second electrode 168 are formed (FIG.25B). The EL layer 166 is formed so as to be in contact with the secondinterlayer insulating film 158 via the trench 180. As described in theFirst Embodiment, the EL layer 166 may have the same structure in all ofthe sub-pixels 106, and a partial structure (emission layer, etc.) maybe different between the adjacent sub-pixels 106. The formation of thesecond electrode 168 may be carried out with a material and a methodwhich are the same as those of the first electrode 144. When thelight-emission from the light-emitting element is obtained through thebase material 102, a metal with a high reflectance or an alloy thereofmay be used. On the other hand, when the light-emission from thelight-emitting element is extracted in a direction opposing the basematerial 102, an oxide with a light-transmitting property, such as ITOand IZO, may be used.

Next, the passivation film 170 for protecting the light-emitting elementis formed (FIG. 25B). The passivation film 170 can contain an inorganiccompound exemplified by silicon nitride, silicon oxide, or the like anda polymer material such as an acrylic resin, a polyimide, a polyester,and a polycarbonate. Specifically, a structure may be employed in whichan acrylic resin is sandwiched by films of silicon nitride. The acrylicresin may be formed with an evaporation method, an ink-jet method, alamination method, a printing method, and the like.

Through the above processes, the display device of an embodiment of thepresent invention can be manufactured.

The aforementioned modes described as the embodiments of the presentinvention can be implemented by appropriately combining with each otheras long as no contradiction is caused. Furthermore, any mode which isrealized by persons ordinarily skilled in the art through theappropriate addition, deletion, or design change of elements or throughthe addition, deletion, or condition change of a process is included inthe scope of the present invention as long as they possess the conceptof the present invention.

In the specification, although the cases of the organic EL displaydevice are exemplified, the embodiments can be applied to any kind ofdisplay devices of the flat panel type such as other self-emission typedisplay devices, liquid crystal display devices, and electronic papertype display device having electrophoretic elements and the like. Inaddition, it is apparent that the size of the display device is notlimited, and the embodiment can be applied to display devices having anysize from medium to large.

It is properly understood that another effect different from thatprovided by the modes of the aforementioned embodiments is achieved bythe present invention if the effect is obvious from the description inthe specification or readily conceived by persons ordinarily skilled inthe art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a flexiblesubstrate; a first pixel including at least two subpixels each includinga semiconductor film on the flexible substrate; a second pixel adjacentto the first pixel, the second pixel including at least two subpixelseach including a semiconductor film on the flexible substrate; a firstinorganic layer covering each of the semiconductor films in the firstpixel and the second pixel; a first gate line on the first inorganiclayer a part of which overlaps the semiconductor films of the firstpixel with the first inorganic layer sandwiched therebetween; a secondgate line on the first inorganic layer a part of which overlaps thesemiconductor films of the second pixel with the first inorganic layersandwithed therebetween; a second inorganic layer covering the firstgate line and the second gate line, the second inorganic layer having aplurality of contact holes; connection electrodes located on the secondinorganic layer one of which connects the first gate line to the secondgate line through one of the contact holes; a third inorganic layercovering the connection electrodes; an organic layer covering the thirdinorganic layer; and a trench in the organic layer, wherein a part ofthe trench overlaps the connection electrodes.
 2. The display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the trench extends perpendicular to thefirst gate line and the second gate line.
 3. The display deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a signal line located on thethird inorganic layer and connected to one of the semiconductor films ofthe first pixel, wherein a direction in which the signal line extends isparallel to a line on which the connection electrodes are arranged andthe trench extending along the signal line.
 4. The display deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the trench is located between the firstpixel and the second pixel.
 5. The display device according to claim 3,wherein the trench is located between the first pixel and the secondpixel.